summer#3
Just got off the phone discussing salary per job, benefits, pros and cons etc. with a very excited and talented young designer (an ex-student) that was offered a design position. Whether she takes it or not (just kidding!) here’s a reference that might come in handy in case you are in the process of tracking the best job ever!

We may not have met yet, but I suspect you’ll receive this letter as if it’s a call from a wayward kindred spirit. See, we’ve got this magic chemistry that’s precious and rare. In short, I’m looking for you. More directly, the world needs you.

First, let me tell you that XPLANE is unlike anywhere you’ve worked before. We give respect to Design by using it as a proper noun. We’re neither an advertising agency nor a marketing group — we’re a consultative Design studio wherein Designers employ the arts of listening, strategizing, creating and presenting on a daily basis.

Now that I have your attention, please allow me a few moments to tell you why you’re so very special.

For starters, you have stunning visual chops. You have the talent, experience, and skill needed to deliver every time. Some of our best Designers on staff have advanced degrees, while others have no formal training at all. Wherever you land on the spectrum, you’re able to balance your academic credentials with an intuitive flair that leads to jaw-dropping and timeless visual Design.

This said, you know that great looking work isn’t everything; experience creation is your ultimate goal. Yes, you know the nuts and bolts of how to build interactive and print projects from the ground up, but the reason we’re interested in you is your ability to place yourself within the minds of your audience. You uncover what is interesting to them, mastermind what will surprise them, and formulate what will help them to best understand and retain what they experience.

You think like da Vinci. Everyone can draw, it’s true, but you can REALLY draw. Like, with a pencil. Or with a marker while standing in front of fifty people. You might even be able to draw with a tablet on your computer. What’s more, you can listen and draw at the same time. And chew gum. Kidding about the gum. Drawing is the start of every project we do and shepherding your Designs from inception to completion requires that you be a true renaissance man or woman to make the grade.

While I know you can find fulfillment in nearly every Design challenge, you can afford to expect a great variety. At XPLANE, you’ll work sometimes from a directional void and sometimes within strict guidelines. You won’t be making web banners because you’re an industry-agnostic multimedia ninja who is constantly asked to stretch into illustration, writing, motion, sound Design and much more. You’ll Design for varied industries and for some of the most exciting companies in the world, including many of the Fortune 100. Some currently active studio projects include mobile apps, interactive sites, touchscreen experiences, process maps, training courses, print campaigns, visual languages and animated movies. Diverse, right? Here are some examples: http://xplane.com/portfolio. Here are some more: http://youtube.com/user/xplanevisualthinking.

You’re not just a studio Designer — you travel well. We won’t keep you locked in some tower. In fact, you might be in Portland your first week, off to San Francisco for a few days, then straight to Vegas, then back to the studio. Maybe even a jaunt to Brussels. We have clients all over the world and guess what — we send our Designers to meet them at the beginning of almost every project, so make sure your passport is up to date.

You can appreciate sky-high limits. We’ll encourage you to try new things and you’ll have the freedom to be as creative as your project (and budget) allows. This means you’re a natural learner. You’re curious, even nosey. You’ll act autonomously but won’t feel alone in your endeavors. But be warned – with such freedoms, come great responsibilities. This job isn’t for the faint of heart.

Now in closing, I must ask, did you know that XPLANE was voted by our employees as one of Oregon Business Journal’s 100 best Places to Work? Yup. We’ve been working really hard to earn that title. We know that at the end of the day, it’s all about our people. They’re our most valuable asset. One more DYK — we’re also one of Oregon Business Journal’s Fastest Growing Companies for five years running. When you have great people with great talent, you attract great clients and create great work.

Now you know what we’re looking for. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.